Owls guard William Knowles finds a spot in the lane to take a quick shot as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Owls guard William Knowles finds a spot in the lane to take a quick shot as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Owls guard Richard Garza gets a knee in the side as he tries to break by Warriors defender Jordan Corona as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Owls guard Richard Garza gets a knee in the side as he tries to break by Warriors defender Jordan Corona as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Warriors forward Taurean Waller-Prince gets off a shot under the basket as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Warriors forward Taurean Waller-Prince gets off a shot under the basket as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Owls forward Brian Miller gets up for a high jumper as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Owls forward Brian Miller gets up for a high jumper as Highlands plays Warren in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons guard Uche Ofoegbu is pressure on the corner by Lawrence Gonzalez as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons guard Uche Ofoegbu is pressure on the corner by Lawrence Gonzalez as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Falcons player Eliot Mills goes to the hoop from behind the backboard against Bobcats center Gabe Garza as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons player Eliot Mills goes to the hoop from behind the backboard against Bobcats center Gabe Garza as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Falcons player Javon Joseph gets a shot off in heavy traffic as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons player Javon Joseph gets a shot off in heavy traffic as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Falcons forward Marcus Roper breaks free for a two-handed slam against Matt Garcia as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons forward Marcus Roper breaks free for a two-handed slam against Matt Garcia as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Falcons guard Uche Ofoegbu slices between Jake Quinones (5) and Matt Garcia for a layup as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons guard Uche Ofoegbu slices between Jake Quinones (5) and Matt Garcia for a layup as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Falcons player Uche Ofoegbu puts up a runner as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Falcons player Uche Ofoegbu puts up a runner as Stevens plays South San in the boys basketball playoffs at Greehey Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Photo: TOM REEL, Tom Reel/Express-News

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Highlands upsets Warren; Stevens tops South San

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Highlands guard William Knowles walked down a Greehey Arena hallway shouting to his teammates, “I told you! I told you from the very beginning we weren't going home tonight!”

The Owls had just upset No. 6 Warren 66-59, but Highlands' chances looked dicey for a few minutes in the fourth quarter.

Then Knowles carried the Owls.

He scored 12 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, helping Highlands hold off a Warren comeback in the Class 5A bidistrict round.

“William's our leader,” Highlands coach Rufus Lott said. “As long as he's focused, he can do it all.”

Warren (26-10) went on an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, keeping Highlands scoreless for a four-minute stretch. The Warriors briefly took the lead with 1:45 left on a three-point play by Taurean Prince-Waller, who had 21 points and 12 rebounds.

But Highlands (18-15) scored the last eight points of the game as Knowles had six of them in the final 42 seconds. Knowles' late heroics were just part of a dominant performance, as he also had seven rebounds and seven assists.